Local boxers win medals at national championships

A pair of fighters from Amherstburg’s Fighting Island Boxing Club came home with medals from the last month’s Canadian National Boxing Championships.

Ricardo Siwak and Steve Wigle won gold and bronze respectively at the tournament in Quebec City. Siwak’s gold came in the junior division as he defeated Gabriel Tremblay from Quebec in the finals. Wigle landing a bronze medal after a loss in the semi-finals to Derek Pomereau from Quebec, the latter going on to win the gold medal.

Joe LeBlanc, owner and coach at Amherstburg’s Fighting Island Boxing Club, said they arrived at the tournament Easter Sunday with fights starting the next day. Wigle, a 118 lbs. fighter, beat the number one seed before losing to the Quebec southpaw. Siwak, a 225 lbs. boxer, won both of his fights.

Both fighters are 16-years-old.

Ricardo Siwak (left) and Steve Wigle won gold and bronze respectively at the recent Canadian National Boxing Championships.

“It was a great tournament for the kids,” said LeBlanc. “It was a good experience for them.”

Wigle said he was “pretty excited” to come home with a bronze medal.

“I’m proud that I got a medal, even if it was a bronze,” said Wigle.

Pomereau’s style was “tricky” to fight against, he said, but added it just wasn’t his day to begin with.

“I wasn’t feeling my best that day and I let that go to my head,” said Wigle. “I lost because of that.”

Wigle added he will become hungrier and go after the gold medal next year at the national competition. He is still pleased with the bronze, however.

“I’m excited and happy to be ranked that high,” he said.

Siwak was thrilled with his performance at the tournament and the fact he came home with the gold.

“It’s a feeling you can’t describe,” said Siwak. “It’s crazy. It’s the best of the best there.”

Siwak added that everyone is out to win and “it’s hard to believe” that he came out on top. In the gold medal bout, he said he felt good during it.

“I felt I was winning,” he said. “I felt I was dominating the fight.”

Noting that he will try to continuously improve, he wants to get as many fights as he can get but is still thrilled by his gold medal.

“It was crazy to finally achieve something you have worked for your whole life. It’s unbelievable,” said Siwak.

Amherstburg’s Fighting Island Boxing Club is holding its own show April 23 at the Libro Centre. Tickets will be available at the door and will be $15 each. The fights start at 7 p.m.